Wallabies' Will Genia facing weeks on sidelines

Wallabies' Will Genia facing weeks on sidelines

THE Wallabies have received a blow after their 6-0 win over France on Saturday night, with halfback Will Genia facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines.

The 55-test veteran hurt his ankle playing for Queensland in round 11 of the Super Rugby tournament and carried the injury into training for the Wallabies' three-Test series against Les Bleus.

"Scans late last week confirmed a pre-existing injury to the upper part of his ankle had not healed sufficiently and as a result medical staff from both the ... Wallabies and Queensland Reds agreed that surgery would be the best course of action," the ARU said.

Although Genia has rarely fired for the Reds this season, his omission from the first two Test raised eyebrows - but his injury was kept under wraps until now.

"Will has demonstrated enormous mental fortitude to play through the injury although it has reached a point where it's important he gets it surgically repaired," Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's 28-27 win over England means a win in Hamilton this Saturday will bring the champion team level with a record mark of 17 successive Test victories.

Ireland also had a narrow victory - 23-17 in Argentina to claim a 2-0 series win.

And a first-half blitz from Willie Le Roux propelled the Springboks to a 38-16 rout of Wales in Durban.

Fullback Le Roux scored one try and set up three others at King's Park, where Bryan Habana crossed over twice.

Fly-half Morne Steyn was on song with the boot as he converted all five tries plus a penalty for a 13-point haul.